Vibratory apparatus for treating a continuous supply of parts

ABSTRACT

An open top container is supported by a set of spring members and is vibrated by a power operated unit to effect movement of a load of media in an orbital path within the container. A succession of parts are continuously supplied to one end of the container and are directed through the media by a helical guide member extending around a tubular core member. Peripherally spaced holes are formed within the core member and/or the helical guide member, or the helical guide member is entirely submerged within the media so that the media remains substantially in its orbital path and does not flow with the parts along the guide member. The parts are sometimes successively connected to form a continuous chain of parts, and the core member may incorporate an intermediate inner wall to prevent mixing of the media within the core member.

United States Patent 1191 lsaacson 1111 3,792,552 [451' Feb. 19,1974

[54] VIBRATORY APPARATUS FOR TREATING A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF PARTS [75] Inventor: Max Isaacson, Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: Vibrodyne, lnc., Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: Nov. 22, 1971 [2l] Appl. No.: 201,084

[52] US. Cl. 51/7, 5l/l63 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Assistant Examiner Nicholas P. Godici Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jacox & Meckstroth [5 7] ABSTRACT An open top container is supported by a set of spring members and is vibrated by a power operated unit to effect movement of a load of media in an orbital path within the container. A succession of parts are continuously supplied to one end of the container and are directed through the media by a helical guide member extending around a tubular core member. Peripherally spaced holes are formed within the core member and- /or the helical guide member, or the helical guide member is entirely submerged within the media so that the media remains substantially in its orbital path and does not flow with the parts along the guide member. The parts are sometimes successively connected to form a continuous chain of parts, and the core member may incorporate an intermediate" inner wall to prevent mixing of the media within the core member.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEBI 919M I 3.792.552

SHEET 1 [If 2 PAIENI FEB 1 9|974 sum 2 or 2 VIBRATORY APPARATUS FOR TREATING A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF PARTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a vibratory machine or apparatus such as, for example, the vibratory apparatus disclosed in Isaacson et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,664 which issued to the assignee of this invention. In this patent, an open top tub or container is cantileveredly supported by a set of spring beams for oscillatory vibration on an effective pivot axis offset laterally from a vertical plane extending through the center of the container. The container is preferably oscillated by a pair of electromagnets to effect orbital movement of a load of parts and media within the container. After a batch of parts have been surface treated or finished by the media within the-container, usually the load of parts and media are discharged from the vibrating container onto a vibrating screen which separates the parts from the media. The media is then returned to the container, and another batch of parts are supplied to the container for treatment. 1

It is frequentlydesir'able to provide for treating some parts on a continuous basis as the parts are successively supplied from a previous operation such as a manufacturing operation. There have been a number of vibratory machines which have beenused or proposed for treating a continuous supply of parts and in which the parts are successively fed through an elongated vibratory container having a load of media for treating the parts. For example, US. Pat. No. 3,071,900 and No. 3,161,993 disclose several embodiments of a vibratory machine for surface finishing a continuous supply of parts. In one embodiment of the latter patent, an oblong helical flight is employed within a vibratory container for progressively conveying the load of parts and media from the inlet end of the container to the opposite discharge end where the media is separated from the parts and returned to the inlet end of the container. British Pat. No. 959,849 discloses another form of vibratory apparatus for surface treating a continuous supply of parts within an elongated container. The parts are fed through a load of media within the container by a series of screen elements extending from an endlessdrive chain positioned above the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a vibratory treating apparatus which provides an improved means for treating a continuous supply of parts within a container of predetermined size. The invention provides for continuously directing the parts along a helical path within a load of media without conveying the media in the helical path of the parts so that the entire container is usable for treating the parts, and the parts may be fed at a rate which provides for optimum surface treatment of the parts. This rate can be established by selecting the amplitude of vibration of the'container or by a controlled predetermined speed of movement of a chain of parts or by both the amplitude and the speed of movement of the chain of parts.

The apparatus of the invention also provides for separating the media from the parts while the parts are being directedthrough the media and further provides for spacing the parts to prevent impacting of the parts while they are being treated within the media. In addition, the apparatus provides for maintaining substantial separation of the media within the container and for directing the continuous supply of parts from the treating media in one portion of the container to the treating media within another portion of the container. This enables parts to receive one type of treatment within the one portion of the container and another type of treatment within the other portion of the container. For this purpose, fluid discharge openings are provided, preferably at opposite ends of the container.

In accordance with the disclosed embodiments of the invention, above features and advantages are generally provided by inserting an elongated part advancing unit within a vibratory container. The part advancing unit incorporates a longitudinally extending tubular core member around which is formed a helical guide memher. The guide member may be submerged within the media, or perforations may be formed in the peripheral surface of the core member and/or in the guide member. The perforations are smaller than the parts being treated but are larger than the size of the media so that as the load of parts and media orbits within the container, the parts are directed by the helical guide memher from the inlet end of the container to the outlet end while the media flows either over the guide member or through the core member and/or the guide member.

In one embodiment, the core member has a generally flat upper wall portion for conveying the parts after the media is separated, and the core member has an intermediate wall which separates the media within the core member. In another embodiment, the parts are successively connected by flexible links to form a continuous chain of parts, and in a further embodiment, the parts are directed in a helical path by a helical track extending around the core member.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vibratory apparatus incorporating means for treating a continuous supply of parts in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the vibratory apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the surface treatment of a chain; I

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary part sectional and part elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section of a vibratory container similar to that shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating a modification of vibratory apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary part sectional and part elevational view of the modification shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section similar to FIG. 4 and showing another modification of vibratory apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;- I

FIG. 7 is another section similar to FIG. 4 and showing a further modification of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary part elevational view of the modification shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and showing a further modification of the invention; and 9 FIG. 10 is a fragmentary part sectional and part elevational view of the modification shown in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The vibratory apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally includes a base frame having parallel spaced vertical end walls rigidly connected by a cross plate 17 and a channel member 18. The frame 15 is mounted on resilient shock absorbing feet 19 located at the corners of the frame. A trough-like tub or container 20 is positioned between the end walls 16 of the frame 15 and includes parallel spaced vertical end walls 21 rigidly connected by an intermediate wall 22 having a U- shaped cross-sectional configuration. The container has an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 23, and the walls 21 and 22 are covered with a lining 24 ofa durable plastics material such as polyurethane. The lined container walls 21 and 22 define an open top chamber 25 having a rectangular horizontal configuration and a U-shaped vertical configuration, and commonly, a door is provided in at least one of the end walls 21.

The container 20 is positioned so that a longitudinal plate 27 extending through the center of the container is slightly inclined from a vertical plane. On one side of the center plane 27, the container is supported by a pair of l-shaped end spring members or beams 30 which connect the end walls 21 of the container to the end walls 16 of the frame 15. On the opposite side of the center plane 27, the container 20 may be supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced coil compression springs (not shown) which may extend between the channel member 18 and a longitudinally extending angle bracket (not shown) secured to the adjacent side of the wall 22 of the container. A similar arrangement of support springs (not shown) may be provided for the opposite side wall of the container.

The spring beams' 30 establish an effective pivot axis 40 (FIG.2) for the container 20 and provide the container 20 with a predetermined resonant frequency of oscillation. This resonant frequency is somewhat above 3,600 cycles per second when the apparatus is to be operated from a 60 cycle power supply. After a load of parts and media is placed within the container 20, as will be explained later, the resonant frequency of the system including the container, load and spring beams is substantially 3,600 cycles per second.

The container 20 is oscillated by power operated means including a pair of electromagnets arranged in opposed relation on opposite sides of a bar-like armature 46. The ends of the armature are rigidly connected to parallel spaced plates 48 which are secured to the intermediate wall 22 of the container 20. Each magnet 45 is mounted on a bracket 50 which is slidably supported by the cross plate 17 andis laterally adjustable by a set of screws (not shown). Each magnet 45 is adjusted after a load is placed within the container to form a predetermined uniform gap 52 between the armature 46 and each of the electromagnets 45 according to the desired amplitude of oscillation. As a result of the offcenter effective pivot axis 40, it is apparent that the amplitude of vibration or oscillation of the container 20 is greater on the right side (FIG. 2) of the cen- In accordance with the present invention, parts are progresively directed or fed through the container 20 by a guide unit which inserts into the container chamber 25. The unit 60 includes an elongated linear wall 62 which has generally a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration conforming to the shape of the container wall 22 except for the cylindrical portion 63 which projects inwardly from the container wall 22. Flanges 64 and 66 project outwardly from opposite sides of the wall 62 and seat on the flanges 23 of the container 20 to locate the wall 62 within the container 20. The wall 62 defines an elongated open top generally cylindrical chamber 65. It is apparent that other means may be used for positively securing the guide unit 60 to the container 20, as will be explained later.

A helical flight or guide member 68 is positioned within the liner wall 62 and extends around a tubular cylindrical core member 70 having axially spaced rows of peripherally spaced perforations or openings 71. The chamber is adapted to receive a load of media M such as the steel balls illustrated in FIG. 2. The media might also consist of ceramic balls or chips or other abrasive material depending upon the parts to be treated and the type of surface finish desired on the parts. For purpose of illustration, the parts P consist of oval links which are successively connected to form an elongated chain C. A slightly arcuate leader 72 is connected to the leading end link of the chain C and has a hook shaped forward end portion. The leader 72 and the leading end of the chain C are fed into the chamber 65 at one end of the guide unit 60. I

.As a result of the orbital movement of the load of media M outside of the core member 60, the chain of parts P is advancedaround the helical guide member 68 in a helical path from the inlet end of the chamber 65 to the outlet end where the chain of parts is directed out of the chamber 65 and is wrapped into a coil or directed to another successive operation. Since the media is smaller than the openings 71, when the media M orbits within the chamber 64 the media flows through the openings 71 within the tubular core member and separates from the parts P as the parts are directed over the core member 70 along the helical path defined by the guide member 68. Thus the media remains substantially level within the chamber 65 as the media orbits within the path shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. The portion 63 of the wall 62 assures that the media is directed substantially to the top of the core member 70 so that the chain of parts P move over the top of the core member and follow the helical guide member 68.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 which show a modification of the invention, a guide unit 75 is inserted within the chamber 25 of the container 20 and includes a tubular core member 76 having opposite ends which are secured to the end wall 21 of the container 20. A helical flight-like guide member 78 extends around the core member 76, and each convolution or turn of the guide member 78 has a flat upper surface 79 which is located below the upper level of the media M as shown in FIG. 4.

-The parts P illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 consist of a series of used telephone housings which are being treated for removing the gloss from the outer surface of the housings so that the housings can be refinished or painted. The parts P are connected in series by flexible links 81 to form a flexible chain of parts which are adapted to wrap around the core member 76 in a helical manner between the convolutions or turns of the guide member 78. A magnet 82 is attached to the end of the leading link 81 projecting from the first part P and has curved pole faces slidably contacting the outer surface of the core member 76 which is constructed of a ferrous material.

As the media M orbits around the guide unit 75, the parts P advance in a helical path around the tubular core member 76 and are directed by the helical guide member 78 from the inlet end of the chamber 25 to the discharge end where the chain of parts is directed from the chamber 25 and onto a receiving conveyor. As shown in FIG. 4, the level of the media M is maintained above the upper surface 79 of the helical guide member 78. This as the media orbits over the top of the guide member 78, the media remains in its orbital path and is not advanced in a helical path with the chain of parts.

FIG. 6 shows another modification of vibratory apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, a part guide unit 85 is supported within a liner wall 62 in the same manner as the part guide unit 60 described above in connection with FIG. 2, The guide unit 85 includes a non-perforated tubular cylindrical core member 86 around which extends a helical flight or guide member 87. The guide member 87 projects outwardly from the core member 86 to the liner wall 62 in the same manner as the guide member 68 shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the guide member 87 has a series of perforations or openings 88 which are somewhat smaller than the parts P illustrated in the form of C-shaped retaining rings.

The pitch of the turns or convolutions of the guide member 87 is substantially smaller than the pitch of the convolutions of the guide member 68 so that the retaining rings or parts P are retained in a substantially radial plane when they orbit around the core member 86, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The openings 88 within the helical guide member 86 function in the same manner as the openings 71 withinthe tubular core member 70. That is, as the media M orbits around the core member 86, the media flows through the openings 88 and remains in a generally orbital path instead of being advanced in a helical path with the parts P.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 which show another embodiment of vibratoryapparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, a parts guide unit 90 is positioned within the container in the same manner as the parts guide unit 60 shown in FIG. 2. The unit 90 includes a tubular core member 92 having peripherally spaced perforations or openings 93 in the same manner as the openings 71 within the core member 70. For purposes of simplification, only a few openings 93 are shown in FIG. 7 within the core member 92. In practice, substantially more openings are used. The core member 92 has a substantially flat upper wall portion 94 which slopes downwardly in the direction of flow of the orbiting media M. A helical guide member 96 extends, around the core member 92, and each turn or convolution of the guide member has a flat upper edge 97 which extends substantially parallel to the upper wall portion 94 but is located above the upper level of the media M. At the discharge end of the container 20, a sloping discharge chute 98 extends from the sloping upper wall portion 94 between the adjacent convolutions of the helical guide member 96 and through the inner side wall 22.

member 92, the media flows'through the openings 93 within the core member 92 and separates from the parts which vibrate down the upper flat wall portion 94 of the core member 92 and continue in a helical path. At the discharge end of the container, the separated parts vibrate down the discharge chute 98 and onto a conveyor or into a suitable receiver bin.

The separation of the media within the core member 92 is particularly desirable for treating certain parts such as the retaining rings shown in FIG. 6. These rings have an oil coating when they are received by the vibratory apparatus. This oil coating isremoved from the rings within the first portion of the chamber 25 by circulating a solvent through the media within this portion of the chamber. The wall 100 significantly reduces mixing of the media containing solvent with the media on the opposite side of the wall 100 and which is effective to descale the parts and remove all burrs and the like after the parts are cleaned. Preferably, openings (not shown) are provided within the end walls of the container to provide for withdrawing the solvent of other cleaning solution. 7

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this embodiment, a part guide unit is positioned within the container 20 and includes a cylindrical or tubular inner core member 116 which rigidly connects a pair of opposite U-shaped end walls 118 secured to the corresponding end walls 21 of the container 20. The end walls 118 are also connected by an outer tubular core member 120 which is concentric with the inner tubular core member 116 and has a helical guide track or slot 122. A series of radially extending rods or plates 124 (FIG. 9) support the tubular core member 120 concentrically with the inner tubular core member 116 and are arranged in spaced relation wit the guide slot 122.

Each end of the helical guide slot 122 has an enlarged opening (not shown) for receiving one or more guide members 126 which includes a set of rollers 127 mounted on a shaft supported by a bracket 128. The

bracket 128 extends through the guide 122 and connects with a flexible link or leader 130 which couples with 'a part P illustrated in the form of a telephone housing as mentioned above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. The parts P may be connected together to form a chain of parts as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or each part P may be guided by its own guide member 126 extending into the guide slot122. Thus as the media M orbits within the chamber 25, the parts are advanced along the helical guide track or slot 122.

From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that a vibratory apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention provides desirable features and advantages. For example, each of the embodiments provides for surface treating .a continuous supplyof parts by directing the parts along a helical path from one end of the treating chamber to the opposite end. Furthermore, while the parts are being advanced through the treating chamber, the media remains in a generally orbital path and does not advance with the parts from the inlet end of the chamber of the discharge end where the parts are removed by a screen or a magnetic conveyor. As a result, the media may be orbited at a rate which provides optimum treatment of the parts and not at a rate determined by the separation of the media from the parts at the discharge end of the container. Thus, the openings 71 within the core member 70 provide for a continuous separation of the media from the parts as the parts are advanced along the helical path determined by the guide member 68. The openings 71 also provide for a self-leveling of the media within the core member 70 and thereby provide for a generally uniform distribution of the treating media along the length of the vibratory container.

Similarly, the cut-off helical guide member 78 submerged within the media shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the openings 86 within the helical guide member 84 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, and the helical guide track or slot 122 in the modification of FIGS. 9 and 10 provide for maintaining the treating media within its generally orbital path while the parts are directed along a helical path as a result ofthe orbiting movement of the media.

In addition, the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 significantly reduces the mixing of the portions of the media on opposite sides of the intermediate wall 100. As a result, the media in the first portion of the container may be used for cleaning, degreasing or a similar treating operation without contaminating the media within the second portion of the container. Thus the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 provides for multiple stage treatment of a continuous supply of parts without removing the parts from the vibratory container. While only one intermediate wall 100 is illustrated within the core member 92, it is within the scope of the invention to use additional intermediate walls to provide additional treating zones for a continuous supply of parts.

Furthermore, by connecting the parts to form a continuous chain of parts as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the parts are maintained in spaced relation so that the parts do not impact each other. In addition, the chain of parts may be connected to a power operated drive means which assists in advancing the parts through the media within the container. Thus the parts may be fed through the treating media at a rate which is controlled along with the rate of orbital movement of the treating media to provide optimum treatment of the parts.

While the forms of vibration apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The invention having thus been described the following is claimed:

I. In vibratory apparatus including a frame, a container defining a chamber adapted to receive a load of treating media and parts to be treated and having an inlet end and a discharge end, meansmounted on said frame and supporting said container'for vibration, and power operated means cooperating with said supporting means for vibrating said container with sufficient force to effect movement of the media in a generally orbital path, the improvement comprising a stationary generally helical guide member disposed within said chamber and extending around a core member, a series of links for flexibly connecting a series of parts in succession to form a continuous chain of parts, and means for feeding the chain of parts into said inlet end of said container and along said helical guide member and to said outlet end of said container in response to the movement of the media in said orbital path.

2. In vibratory apparatus including a frame, a container defining a chamber adapted to receive a load of treating media and parts to be treated, means mounted on said frame and supporting said container for vibration, and power operated means cooperating with said supporting means for vibrating said container with sufficient force to effect movement of the media in a generally orbital path, the improvement comprising a stationary generally cylindrical hollow core member disposed within said chamber, a stationary helical flight member extending around said core member and projecting outwardly to said container, said flight member cooperating with said core member to direct a continuous supply of parts along a generally helical path around the outer surface of said core member, means defining peripherally spaced openings within said core member along the length thereof, and said openings being larger than the size of the treating media and smaller than the size of the parts to effect a flow of the media through the openings and into the core member as the parts move along said helical path in response to movement of the media in said orbital path.

3. In vibratory apparatus including a frame, a container defining a chamber adapted to receive a load of treating media and parts to be treated, means mounted on said frame and supporting .said container for vibration and power operated means cooperating with said supporting means for vibrating said container with sufficient force to effect movement of the media in a generally orbital path, the improvement comprising a stationary generally cylindrical core member disposed within said chamber, a stationary helical flight member extending around said core member and projecting outwardly to said container, said flight member cooperating with said core member to direct a continuous supply of parts along a generally helical path around the outer surface of said core member, means defining peripherally spaced openings within said flight member along the length thereof, and said openings being larger than the size of the treating media and smaller than the size of the parts to effect a flow of the media through the openings within said flight member as the parts move along said helical path in response to movement of the media in said orbital path.

4. Vibratory apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said core member has a generally flat upper surface portion sloping downwardly in the direction of orbital movement of the load to effect gravity movement of the parts along said guide member without the flow of media.

5. Vibratory apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said flight has upper edge portions located below the top of said container and below the upper level of the media within said container to provide for orbital movement of the media over said upper edge portions of said flight.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including an intermediate wall member extending laterally within said core to minimize mixing of the media within said core member on one side of said wall member with the 10 being movable along said track.

8. Vibratory apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said helical guide member extends around a tubular core member for directing the chain of parts along a helical path within said chamber. 

1. In vibratory apparatus including a frame, a container defining a chamber adapted to receive a load of treating media and parts to be treated and having an inlet end and a discharge end, means mounted on said frame and supporting said container for vibration, and power operated means cooperating with said supporting means for vibrating said container with sufficient force to effect movement of the media in a generally orbital path, the improvement comprising a stationary generally helical guide member disposed within said chamber and extending around a core member, a series of links for flexibly connecting a series of parts in succession to form a continuous chain of parts, and means for feeding the chain of parts into said inlet end of said container and along said helical guide member and to said outlet end of said container in response to the movement of the media in said orbital path.
 2. In vibratory apparatus including a frame, a container defining a chamber adapted to receive a load of treating media and parts to be treated, means mounted on said frame and supporting said container for vibration, and power operated means cooperating with said supporting means for vibrating said container with sufficient force to effect movement of the media in a generally orbital path, the improvement comprising a stationary generally cylindrical hollow core member disposed within said chamber, a stationary helical flight member extending around said core member and projecting outwardly to said container, said flight member cooperating with said core member to direct a continuous supply of parts along a generally helical path around the outer surface of said core member, means defining peripherally spaced openings within said core member along the length thereof, and said openings being larger than the size of the treating media and smaller than the size of the parts to effect a flow of the media through the openings and into the core member as the parts move along said helical path in response to movement of the media in said orbital path.
 3. In vibratory apparatus including a frame, a container defining a chamber adapted to receive a load of treating media and parts to be treated, means mounted on said frame and supporting said container for vibration and power operated means cooperating with said supporting means for vibrating said container with sufficient force to effect movement of the media in a generally orbital path, the improvement comprising a stationary generally cylindrical core member disposed within said chamber, a stationary helical flight member extending around said core member and projecting outwardly to said container, said flight member cooperating with said core member to direct a continuous supply of parts along a generally helical path around the outer surface of said core member, means defining peripherally spaced openings within said flight member along the length thereof, and said openings being larger than the size of the treating media and smaller than the size of the parts to effect a flow of the media through the openings within said flight member as the parTs move along said helical path in response to movement of the media in said orbital path.
 4. Vibratory apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said core member has a generally flat upper surface portion sloping downwardly in the direction of orbital movement of the load to effect gravity movement of the parts along said guide member without the flow of media.
 5. Vibratory apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flight has upper edge portions located below the top of said container and below the upper level of the media within said container to provide for orbital movement of the media over said upper edge portions of said flight.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including an intermediate wall member extending laterally within said core to minimize mixing of the media within said core member on one side of said wall member with the media within said core member on the other side of said wall member.
 7. Vibratory apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said helical guide member comprises a guide track extending around said core member, means for coupling at least one part to said track, and said coupling means being movable along said track.
 8. Vibratory apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said helical guide member extends around a tubular core member for directing the chain of parts along a helical path within said chamber. 